Undergraduates | Graduate & Certificate Students

In keeping with government regulations and Mills policy, financial aid recipients must make satisfactory academic progress towards a degree or certificate in order to receive institutional, federal and/or state aid. Progress is monitored each semester in accordance with the policy as outlined below.

The M Center will notify all students who are placed on financial aid probation. A student may continue to receive financial aid during the first semester of financial aid probation, but will lose it if she is not removed from financial aid probation at the end of that semester.

A student denied financial aid due to lack of satisfactory academic progress will not be considered for reinstatement until minimum grade point average and/or credit completion standards have been met. The student must also meet satisfactory progress standards during semesters in which she/he does not receive aid. Appeals regarding decisions made according to the above policy should be addressed to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee.

Undergraduate Students 

A. Course Load

The normal undergraduate course load at Mills College is 4.25 credits per semester. Accordingly, students will be expected to complete:

• 8.50 credits by the end of the first year;
• 17.00 credits by the end of the second year;
• 25.50 credits by the end of the third year; and
• 34.00 credits by the end of the fourth year.

A student who falls below this cumulative schedule will be allowed a semester's probation in which to restore herself to these benchmark requirements. Exception: students who fail to complete a given semester and/or fail to receive at least one passing grade in a given semester will be disqualified from financial aid eligibility for subsequent semesters without the benefit of a semester of financial aid probation. A financial aid recipient can enroll for less than 4.25 credits for a given semester without jeopardizing aid eligibility as long as:

1. the above annual benchmarks can be maintained AND
2. the student enrolls for a minimum of 3.5 credits.

Note: an aid recipient enrolling for less than 3.5 credits will jeopardize eligibility for Pell Grant, Cal Grant, Mills scholarship funds and possibly loan funds; therefore, students giving any consideration to enrolling for less than 3.5 credits must submit a written appeal of their circumstances to the M Center and should meet with a financial aid staff member to ensure that they understand how their aid eligibility would be affected. Students who are planning to take a reduced courseload due to disability will need to submit an academic plan (forms available in the Division of Student Life). Any changes in the academic plan should be submitted prior to the beginning of the semester. Other issues, such as graduating seniors in their last semester and leave of absences during a semester, will be resolved through a process of petitioning and review by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee.

B. Academic Standing

As defined by the Academic Standing Committee, an undergraduate whose cumulative and/or semester grade point average is less than 2.0 will be placed on academic probation.

C. Enrollment Status

1. Mills College scholarship assistance is awarded only to full-time students pursuing a first baccalaureate degree.
   
2. All part-time undergraduate students ineligible for Mills scholarship funds will be expected to complete all credits for which they are enrolled and maintain a minimum 2.0 semester and cumulative grade point average.

D. Duration of Undergraduate Student Aid Eligibility

1. Entering freshwomen who receive financial aid are expected to graduate after completing the equivalent of eight semesters of course work.
   
2. For transfer students, the number of semesters of aid eligibility is based upon the graduation date originally established by the transcript evaluator upon entrance to Mills. The M Center reviews each transfer student's previous college course work and establishes an anticipated degree date for the student. A transfer student is eligible for financial aid for only the number of semesters remaining to the original anticipated degree date for a first baccalaureate degree. Changes in anticipated degree date do not automatically mean a student's financial aid will be continued to the revised anticipated degree date.
   
   Note: All transfer students are strongly advised to meet with their faculty advisors and check myMILLS during their first semester of enrollment to confirm their anticipated degree date. Once again, be advised that the M Center will use the anticipated degree date listed at the end of your first semester at Mills for calculating the number of semesters of aid eligibility.
   
   
3. Financial aid eligibility for all undergraduate students continues only to the original expected date of graduation towards a first baccalaureate degree. For example, a request to extend a graduation date in order to complete a second major is not a basis for extending financial aid eligibility an additional semester(s).

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Graduate Degree and Certificate Students

Full-time graduate degree students are expected to complete a minimum of 2 credits per semester and maintain a minimum 3.0 semester and cumulative grade point average. Part-time graduate students are expected to complete all credits for which they are enrolled and maintain a minimum 3.0 semester and cumulative grade point average.

Full-time certificate students are expected to complete a minimum of 2 credits per semester and maintain a minimum 2.75 semester and cumulative grade point average. Part-time certificate students are expected to complete all credits for which they are enrolled and maintain a minimum 2.75 semester and cumulative grade point average.

Master's degree candidates and certificate students are eligible for financial aid through their original anticipated degree date which is established by the M Center, subject to the limits outlined in the "Understanding Your Graduate Financial Aid Award" document. Full-time students enrolled in a master's degree program or the Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Med Certificate program may receive federal financial aid for a maximum of four semesters. Full-time students enrolled in other certificate programs may receive federal financial aid for a maximum of two semesters. Students pursuing a doctorate in education may receive federal financial aid for a maximum of six semesters.

Note: Students who are planning to take a reduced courseload due to disability will need to submit an academic plan (forms available in the Division of Student Life). Any changes in the academic plan should be submitted prior to the beginning of the semester.